Mode of shaping cast-steel



(Non/Lodel.)

J. A. POT

MODE 0F SHAPING STEEL. No. 434,294. Patented Aug. 12,1890.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. POTTER, OF HOMESTEAD, PENNSYLVANIA.

MODE OF SHAPING CAST-STEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming' part 0f Letters Patent No. 434,294, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed December 5, 1889. Serial No.332,676. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VJOHN A. POTTER, of Homestead, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shaping Cast- Steel, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in the art of shaping cast-steel for the production of articles of dense and homogeneous structure free from blow-holes and of great strength, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows a side elevation, partly in section,of apparatus which I have devised for the practice of the invention. This drawing shows a mold of proper shape to produce a steel cannon, for the manufacture of which my invention is especially well adapted; but it will be understood that the invention, as hereinafter defined in the claims, has other uses, and may be applied to the shaping of other articles, such as shafting, &c.

In the drawing, 2 represents a mold,which is preferably made of a' single cast piece of metal having a mold-cavity 3, whose internal shape conforms to the article to be produced, and having at t-he end of the mold-cavity, and directly communicating therewith, a cavity S, in which the end of a ram et tits and works. This ram a is set on or secured to a pluugerl, which works within a hydraulic cylinder 5, the rain being removably set on the plunger for the purpose ofenablingI the cylinder and plunger to be used with molds of different sizes, as hereinafter explained. The cylinder 5 is in line with the rnold-cavity and is pret'- erabl y secured thereto by strong tie-bolts 6,7 being a guide-plate or ring interposed between the mold and cylinder and fitting neatly around the ram. Both the ram and the mold may be suitably water-cooled by internal water-circulating passages or pipes.

l5 is the supply-pipe which admit-s water to the cylinder 5 at the outer end of the plunger.

9 is a ladle supported by a suitable crane l0, and adapted to supply molten steel to the mold. The mold-cavity is open at the end opposite to-the plunger and in form the cavity tapers in diameter toward the open end.

The operation is as follows: The parts being in the position shown in the drawing, the ladle 9 is carried by the crane into position mold and by a wedge la between the bar and 6o cover. The rain 4 is then raised within the mold-cavity, so as'to force the metal up into the narrower cavity 3, and to compress it against the cover, the effect of which compression is to density the metal, to render its heat uniform throughout, and to expel therefrom the gases, which escape from the mold through perforations or air-passages which maybe formed in the cover. The inetal is thus maintained in a state of compression 7o against the cover until by radiation of its heat itloses its fluidity and solidiies. By thus suffering the metal to cool under compression it is caused to shrink uniformly, a uniform temperature throughout the whole mass is 7,5

maintained,and segregation into pockets of the non-metallic constituents-such as carbon and phosphorus-wis effectually prevented.

vWhen the metal has properly solidified, the

4fastening' of the mold-cover is removed'and So further pressure is applied by the ram to the metalfthe effect of which is to discharge the metal from the cavity S, forcing it up in the contracted cavity 3 and causing the surplus to lift the cover and to protrude from the open end of the mold. As said cavity, by reason of its contracted shape, opposes resistance to the advance of the metal, it exerts thereon a reducing and compressing action, which has the effect of still more densifying its composition, 9o

iucreasingits strength, and rendering it homogeneous. The advance of the ram is continued until itreaches the end of the cavity 8,

and when the shaping is thus completed the lunrer and ram are retracteCLand b removr p n 9J ing the mold from the plate 7 and allowing the metal to cool sufficiently to shrink loose A from. the mold it may be removed or ejected in any suitable way.

By reason of t-he construction of the parts roc above described and shown, it follows that the same cylinder 5 and plunger l may be employed in connection with molds of various sizes and shape, all that is necessary to adapt them to a new mold being to replace the ram with one ot' proper size to fit the mold-cavity 8, and the plate 7 with one having a hole of proper diameter to lit neatly around the ram, so as to prevent possibility of the escape of metal when the mold is in use.

Various modifications of the apparatus may be made without departing from the principles of my invention as herein claimed. For example, the construction and arrangement ol' the hydraulic mechanism may be varied, and the 1nold,instead of being made in a single piece, may be formed of several pieces, which may be held together by a hydraulic ram or otherwise.

Other modifications will suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Articles produced as above described are of great strength and superior quality, and the cost of the construction and operation ot' the apparatus is small as compared with the saving and benefits attained by its use.

The essential features of myinvention consist, rst, in producing a forging by forcing steel by pressure from a larger cavity of a mold into a smaller cavity, thus reducing and densifying the same; second, in subjecting molten steel to compression in a mold, permitting it to solidify therein, and then by pressure causing it to pass in through a moldcavity of contracted diameter, the contraction of such cavity preferably being gradual, and, third, in the apparatus shown in the drawing and the several integral parts thereof.

I claiml.. In the art of shaping cast-steel, the improvement which consists in charging molten steel into a cavity of contracting cross-see tion, permitting it to solidify therein, and then forcing it through such cavity, whereby the metal is laterally reduced and compacted, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In the art of shaping cast-steel, the improvement which consistsin charging molten steel into a mold-cavityot contracting crosssection,compressing it therein and permitting it lo solidify under such compression, and then forcing the solidified and compressed metal through such cavity, whereby the metal is laterally reduced and forged, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the mold having a cavity 8 for receiving molten steel, a contracted cavity having an open end, and a hydraulic cylinder and ram, substantially as and for the purposes described.

et. The combination of the mold having a cavity S for receiving molten steel, a contracted cavity, and a hydraulic cylinder and ram, and a plate 7, which lits around the ram, substantially as and for the purposes described.

The combination of the mold having a cavity S for receiving molten steel, a con tracted cavity having an open end, a hydraulic cylinder and ram, and a removable cover, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of November, A. l). 1839.

Witnesses:

W. l5. ConwIN, JN0. K. SMITH. 

